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Old 24th Nov 2007, 18:22
  #1201 (permalink)  
 
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Shed,
Nip up the motorway and jump on a real lo-cost airline to Lisbon, instead of charter/lo-co ish airline.
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Old 24th Nov 2007, 18:40
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Or carry on using a REAL airline!

The LIS service will be back next year and hopefully with a greater frequency and there to show MAN still has control over LPL!

Anybody know how long it will be before AI or Jet will be flying to MAN from India? Can't be long surely!
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Old 24th Nov 2007, 18:56
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We'll see whether the charter / lo-cost ish airline will be back next year, now there's an lo-cost airline on the route
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Old 24th Nov 2007, 19:02
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MUFC_fan - There were reports not too long ago that delegates from AI has stated their desire to restart MAN flights at a North West trade conference.

Maybe just the usual lip-service I guess but here's hoping there is something in it as it does seem strange that MAN still has no scheduled link with India.
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Old 24th Nov 2007, 20:03
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Even the escalators in DUB have motion sensors!

What is happening with the toilets in MAN are they being refurbished any time soon?
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Old 24th Nov 2007, 21:04
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Of all the things to contemplate when flying
from/to an airport I have never been so 'ANAL'
as too ceaselessly (?) harp on about toilet
facilities.........Perhaps im in the minority
that take the view that the toilets might
be ****ty because '****ty' people use them.

Ive never passed through and checked out
the 'dumping grounds' of any airport.

This years 'silly season' has turned into an
'anal silly season' - or
perhaps the chief toilet attendant of Airports
North has cancelled the Christmas bash
and the workers have no-where else to
vent their spleen!!

Get a life !!

MM.
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Old 24th Nov 2007, 21:41
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Mouser-

I must point out to you that my posting does not criticise the Thomsonfly experience at any point. Quite the contrary. Their flights were punctual, efficient and offered exemplary in flight service. In fact, I have done twelve trips with Thomsonfly this year and would happily recommend the experience.

In contrast, I have booked Easyjet just once (and not at all this year). With very good reason. When I turned up at Orly for my lunchtime flight to Geneva, the check-in staff just laughed. "Oh zees one nevere operates! We ave poot you on zee evening one!" And what about my onward transfer to Chamonix then? [Shrug of the shoulders]. That is why I will certainly NOT be rushing anywhere to be treated like that again ... "fool me once - shame on you; fool me twice - shame on me!". Label Thomsonfly Charter/No-Frills whatever you want ... the fact is they have never let me down and have earned my trust and respect as a customer. Give them a try yourself Mouser and experience the difference.

For the record, I do not work for Thomsonfly (or Easyjet).

Last edited by Shed-on-a-Pole; 24th Nov 2007 at 21:46. Reason: stray word removed!
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Old 24th Nov 2007, 21:53
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Jet2 will start trailling a premium seats only config 757 on flights to NYC an YYZ early nxt year and hope to have regular flights this time nxt year .
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Old 24th Nov 2007, 22:27
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JET2.COM,

I'm guessing you work for the airline?

If so, can you give us some more information PLEASE?!

I can understand why they could try a NYC business class as it doesn't look like MAXjet/Silverjet/EOS are looking anywhere North of LTN at the moment.

Lets hope this comes off for the airline. Guessing the premium option would only work at MAN?
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Old 24th Nov 2007, 22:28
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I'm sure the shareholders will welcome that move with yet another 20% drop in value.
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Old 24th Nov 2007, 22:43
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Would a premium-only service really work from MAN? I'm not entirely convinced.
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Old 24th Nov 2007, 22:47
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Well, TCX regard their Canadian config. as all premium, so I'm sure Jet2 can find the right niche for MAN somewhere between Charter Cattle Class and EOS and call it Premium.... it's all relative, son
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Old 24th Nov 2007, 22:54
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Manchester is starting to grow on the business side and with the BBC moving alot of it's offices etc. up to the North West city, it will no doubt result in other companies moving to Manchester.

I don't think an 'EOS' airline is needed in MAN but a Maxjet would suit the airport perfectly to destinations mentioned above, especially on the Toronto where it is now only served by either economy or the 'premium economy' by ZM or TCX which isn't exactly designed for the businessman/woman!

The only problem with the NYC flights is that they will not be operating connecting flights in the US (like CO/DL) or use your airmiles (BA).

I'm guessing the airline is now starting to mve away from the low cost model and dip it's feet all over the place! Flight only, charter flights and now business class!

They have already started to 'upgrade' with the new service to the Canaries.

Well done to LS if this is true!
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Old 24th Nov 2007, 23:16
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Shed, I have nothing but admiration for that (rather long winded!) post. Everything you said speaks perfect sense and is conveyed in a factual but none bitchy way. You've clearly thought through everything you wanted to say prior to posting and reasoned with all the negatives you mention, which is a nice change from the usual bashing that occurs on here.

More often than not, I defend the airport from the relentless bashing. The reason? Because I work for Customer Services and I have to. Basically it's my job. When in uniform I represent MAG and have to take the position of ambassador for the airport. Sometimes, some things that are said become personal. That can't be helped. It's the way we are trained and the way we go about our daily duties. We are the face of Manchester Airport and cannot slag it off in any name, shape or form. At least to the passengers anyway.

Some things that the airport gets slagged off for are unfair. A classic example is poor customer service. Everyone on our team does an amazing job and the same can be said for the handling agents and airlines. The staff work extremely hard in what is a challenging environment, often dealing with difficult customers. To anyone that says the staff at MAN are unfriendly, I'm sorry but I couldn't disagree more. It's very easy to judge but you try dealing with the idiots we have to deal with and still stay smiling.

There are many other examples. Travellators for instance constantly get slated on here. Many of you make fair points but the fact of the matter is, more often than not the travellators aren't working because kids have been playing with the emergency stop button. This is not an excuse, just pointing out a fact. The point I am trying to make is, it's very easy to slag off the running of an airport without any knowledge of what exactly happens behind the scenes.

Manchester is not perfect, Shed's post highlights this. It has the potential to be great but is unfortunately let down in certain areas. There are many issues that need to be rectified and often the reason behind these issues is lack of investment by senior management. In my capacity I would never defend Geoff Muirhead or any of his board, as I believe that their greed has been the downfall of the airport over the past few years. However, the airport is not third world as many of you seem to believe. It has a great deal going for it and if it can iron out such problems then I truly believe it will be a top European airport again very soon. The drop in passenger numbers is the golden opportunity to sort things out whilst the terminals are below capacity and prove that we are the best airport in the region.

Things have already been recognised as needing improvement. All three terminals currently resemble construction sites and by next summer new security areas will have been constructed to decrease queuing time. All the seats have been replaced across the terminals recently and by next Spring all toilet units will have been revamped. These may only be small things but as Shed has pointed out, it's numerous small things added together that MAN is doing wrong. There will be dramatic improvements by next summer and hopefully this will continue.

We can all pick faults at anything. I was at LPL last Sunday and the security queue was a good 30 mins long. Added to that you have to pay 50p for a plastic bag for your liquids and no-one was on hand to help out. At Manchester the plastic bags are free and there's staff to assist you before you reach security. I could well go on the Pprune Liverpool forum and start slagging off the airport but I don't. Because overall the experience was good. Just as I believe the overall MAN experience isn't all that bad. I'll hold my hands up and admit there's problems and yes, we need to sort them out asap. But it's not all doom and gloom. Surely?
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Old 25th Nov 2007, 00:16
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FlyZB -

I applaud your response and agree wholeheartedly with the points you make. The friendliness of MAN's staff has long been the key asset of the entire operation. I recognise too that MAN has many positives, and the constant construction work around the airport yields frequent infrastructure improvements on a cumulative basis. Indeed, it is the fact that MAN has so many of the big issues under control which makes it frustrating that the easily rectified minor details get overlooked.

MAplc is investing telephone number sums in terminal improvements and that is fantastic. I just urge them to put aside £1 million to sort out some minor issues which so frustrate the customers. Movement sensors on the travelators (which are deliberately switched off at night); seating for the elderly and infirm to pause in the check-in halls; an extra pair of hands hired to clear the restaurant tables; a reliable mechanism for opening the terminal door. It's the fact that the airport is within touching distance of excellence which frustrates me; MAplc reacts commendably to refurbishment and expansion needs costing millions but somehow contrives to overlook the "penny details" which so influence the passenger experience. I just plead with MA to spend the pence as well as the pounds.

As for yourself and your staff, Fly ZB, top marks. I work on the airport site too (for a different employer) and hold MA's terminal staff in the highest regard.

Cheers, SHED.
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Old 25th Nov 2007, 09:28
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I have no more information about these longhaul flights, apart from yes i do work at jet2 and the news came from a very reliable source. Apparently the seats have already been ordered and the 757 will hold around 160 pax. Watch this space!
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Old 25th Nov 2007, 10:20
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But the last l heard from a source within, is that they plan to have ETOPS approval by the end of summer 2008.
So it looks like it is going to cost a lot more money to run at the start of the operation.
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Old 25th Nov 2007, 10:48
  #1218 (permalink)  
 
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Well interesting move by Jet2 if its going to happen. Strange though that they would want to market a premium-only service when their core brand is "the Low Cost Airline". In my opinion not many business or premium-leisure passengers would ever associate the name Jet2 with premium travel so its going to take a lot of convincing to win over the type of passenger it would want to attract for this new venture.

Lets hope they re-brand this proposed premium part of the business or it could all fall flat on its face.

Just my opinion
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Old 25th Nov 2007, 16:02
  #1219 (permalink)  
 
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Transit Through T3

This week was may annual birthday trip for 4 days to Costa Del Sol, I was amazed how smooth my T3 transit was. Left home @ 05:00 Thru Security by 05:30, unfortunately WW to AGP was slightly delayed as we had to take on more fuel after boarding due to French strikes which meant going further west & adding about 25 mins. Anyway bags at AGP are always ready by the time I've nipped to the bathroom, I wish MAN was like this!!! Anyway pleasantly suprised on return Friday. 13:10 arrival on 05L, quick taxi exit to gate, bags on belt at 13:25 home by 13:40. I know that it was a quiet time but excellent work by the staff.. PS Much prefer the earlier WW deps from MAN & AGP this year.
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Old 25th Nov 2007, 22:27
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NCL to NYC to start mid summer 2008!!

YYZ and SFB also on the cards?
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